Harry and Meghan's lavish Canadian holiday home revealed

Topics:

The lavish $20 million mansion where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been enjoying "private family time" in Canada has finally been revealed, and boy does it live up to expectations.

The couple chose not to spend the holidays with the royal family this year, instead travelling abroad to celebrate Archie's first Christmas out of the spotlight.

There they took up residence in a lavish waterfront home on Vancouver Island, where they've been visited by several A-list friends and Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland.

Click through to peek inside the opulent holiday home where the royals have been kicking back on their six-week break from public duties.

2 of 5Attribution: Sotheby's International Realty

The mansion is set on a massive four-acre property and boasts four bedrooms, more than enough to accommodate the royal couple, Archie and any A-list visitors.

A French country-inspired home, the main house spreads across 11,416 square feet and has two beach access points.

Meanwhile the guest cottage also located on the property has another three bedrooms spread across 2,349 square feet of space.

3 of 5Attribution: Sotheby's International Realty

According to a 2012 listing by Sotheby's Real Estate, the main house is where you'll find the formal dining room, a huge two-storey living room, a chef's kitchen with a pizza oven and even a game room.

Oh, and did we mention there's a wine tasting room? Because of course there is.

4 of 5Attribution: Sotheby's International Realty

The house is currently owned by a mystery multi-millionaire according to locals, after being purchased for almost $20 million in 2012.

But according to neighbours the home often sits empty, so they're glad the royals have moved in for a while.

"I'm glad they're staying there, because it's an $18m (CAD) property, that's what it was on sale for a few years ago, and it's such a waste of the property for no one to be there," one told the Daily Mail.

5 of 5Attribution: Sotheby's International Realty

Locals have reported that security around the mansion was tightened as early as December 19, with new fences and cameras erected around the lavish home.

Now it's reportedly full to the brim with security guards tasked with keeping prying eyes or overeager fans out.

"It looks very cut off right now, it's not usually like that," a local told the Daily Mail.

"I knew they were here on Wednesday, and by Friday everybody around here knew."